Ditching machine having swingably mounted clamshell bucket



Jan. 17, 1956 M. c. WILLS ETAL DITCHING MACHINE HAVING SWINGABLY MOUNTEDCLAMSHELL BUCKET Filed March 4, 1955 m WW W T we) w 0 WW I W 4 M wUnited States Patent DITCHING MACHINE HAVIN G SWINGABLY MOUNTEDCLAMSHELL BUCKET Marion C. Wills and Wayne 3!. Wills, Topeka, Kaus, as-

signors to Shawnee Manufacturing Company, Ind, Topeka, Kans., acorporation of Kansas Application March 4, 1953, Serial No. 340,316

4 Claims. (Cl. 214-147) This invention relates to materials handlingequipment and particularly to that class of machinery normally used indigging ditches, trenches and other excavations, leveling ground,shaping the side walls of basements and the like, moving earth, rock,sand and gravel, as well as loading such materials in trucks, trailersand other transport instrumentalities.

It is the most important object of this invention to provide inequipment of this class, a clamshell-type of bucket that is mounted .fornormally free swinging movement on a bucket arm that is in turnswingably suspended from an elongated boom, all for the purpose ofrendering the same highly versatile in many types of earth handlingoperations.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a bucket thatincludes a pair of sections that are swingable on the frame therefor formovement toward and away from each other, either independently ortogether and notwithstanding the position of the frame with respect tothe bucket arm upon which it is swingably mounted.

It is a very important object of this invention to provide an assemblyof the aforementioned type wherein extensible means is provided for eachbucket section respectively for actuating the sections independently ortogether, and wherein the extensible means interconnect the sections andthe frame upon which the same are mounted so as to render the frame, thebucket sections and the extensible actuating structure therefor allswingable as a unit upon the bucket arm which supports the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide a swingable clamshellbucket having releasable means for holding the frame upon which thebucket is mounted against swinging movement with respect to the bucketarm that supports the entire swingable assembly.

Other objects include the way in which the aforementioned novelarrangement of parts is provided in combination with a bucket arm thatis in turn swingable on a boom; the manner of interconnecting the bucketarm and the boom with extensible means to cause swinging of the armrelative to the boom; the way in which the boom is in turn swingablymounted on a vertical, rotatable standard; the manner of interconnectingthe boom with the standard for swinging the boom with respect to thestandard; the way in which the rotatable standard is mounted onframework that may be attached to a tractor or the like; the way inwhich the rotatable standard is actuated by opposed prime movers thatinterconnect the standard and the primary framework; and many additionalobjects, all of which will be made clear as the following specificationprogresses.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a ditching machine having swingablymounted clamshell bucket struc-' ture made pursuant to our presentinvention showingthe same operabiy mounted on a tractor.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view 2,731,163 PatentedJan. 17, 1956 of the outermost end of the bucket assembly showing thefree end of the boom, the bucket arms and the bucket mounted thereon;and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, showing the swingablepost of the bucket assembly, held against swinging movement, withrespect to the bucket arms.

The entire earth moving machine forming the subject matter of thepresent invention is designed for mounting upon a tractor broadlydesignated by the numeral 10 in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Through use ofthe power lift mechanism of the tractor 10 a primary supportingframework, or A-frame 12, is moved to a position engaging the groundwhen the assembly is placed in use, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.Additional support for the A-frame i2 is provided through use of a pairof opposed stabilizers 14 swingable on the frame 3.2 to and from aposition bearing against the ground.

The supporting framework 12 carries a vertical standard 16 that isrotatable on its vertical axis and rotated by a pair of opposedextensible assemblies interconnecting the standard 16 and the frame 12.One of these extensible assemblies is shown in Fig. l or" the drawingand is broadly designated by the numeral 18. It consists of adouble-acting, fluid cylinder having a reciprocable piston mountedtherein.

The standard 16 carries an elongated boom for swinging movement on asubstantially horizontal axis, said boom being designated by the numeral20 and its axis of swinging movement being illustrated in Fig. l of thedrawing at 22. The boom 2%) is in turn raised and lowered through use ofa fluid cylinder 24 pivotally connected to the standard 16 near itsuppermost end, the cylinder 24 having a double-acting reciprocablepiston therein. The stem of the piston shown at 26 is pivotallyconnected to the boom 20 thereabove.

A. bracket 23, rigidly secured to the boom 20 at its outermost free end,receives a pair of elongated, spacedapart bucket arms 39 and 32 throughthe medium of a horizontal pivot bolt 34, and the bucket arms 3% and 32in turn receive a clamshell bucket broadly designated by the numeral 36.The arms 30 and 32 are swung on the pivot bolt 34 through use of adouble-acting cylinder 33 adapted to receive fluid at opposite endsthereof and pivotally connected to the boom 20 therebelow and adjacentthe pivot means 22. The reciprocable piston of the cylinder 38 has astem at pivotally connected to the bucket arms 30 and 32 intermediatethe ends thereof.

Bucket 36 is mounted on the arms 36 and 32 through use of a novel framebroadly designated by the numeral 42. Frame 42 is T-shaped andtherefore, includes an elongated crossbeam 44 having a median,upstanding post 46. The crossbeam 44 is provided with a pair ofupstanding cars 48 for each arm 30 and 32 respectively, as is clear inFig. 2 of the drawing. Ears 48 embrace the corresponding arms 30 and 32and receive pivot pins 50, which mount the frame 42 for free swingingmovement relative to the arms 30 and 32 on a substantially horizontalaxis.

The bucket 36 is in turn swingably mounted on the frame 42 and consistsof a pair of cooperating sections 52 and 54. A pair of outermost plates56 and a pair of innermost plates 58, depending from the crossbeam 44and rigid thereto, serve as the means for mounting the sections 52 and54 of the bucket 36 upon the frame 42. A pair of opposed pintles 6d anda second pair of opposed pintles 62 swingably secure the sections 52 and54 respectively to the plates 56 and 58.

The post 46 is provided with bracket means 64 at the uppermost endthereof for receiving a pair of opposed double-acting cylinders 66 and68 for actuating the sections 52 and 54 respectively of the bucket 36.Pivot rods 70 and 72swingably mount the cylinders 66 and 68 to thebracket 64. The reciprocable pistons of the cylinders 66 and 68 areprovided with stems 74 and 76 respectively that are in turn pivotallyjoined to the sections 52 and 54 respectively, as is clear in Figs. 1 to3 inclusive of the drawing. To this end the sections 52 and 54 areprovided with a pair of lugs 78 that in turn receive a pivot pin 80.

In some operations it may be desirable to hold the post 46 againstswinging movement relative to the bucket arms 30 and 32. To this endthere is provided a crossplate 82 interconnecting the arms 30 and 32below the pivot bolt 34 that in turn receives a locking pin 84. When thepost 46 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing betweenthe arms 39 and 32, the pin 84 may be moved into a socketed boss 86 onthe bracket means 64 of the post 46.

Manifestly, all of the fluid cylinders 13, 24, 38, 66 and 68 aresupplied with fluid pressure at both ends thereof through the medium offlexible hoses and other conduits, as is shown in the drawing. Thesource of such fluid supply is not illustrated in the drawing but Fig. 1illustrates the provision of manual control valving means 88, which maybe manipulated by the operator on seat 90 as he faces the bucket 36. Byopening and closing the proper valves, the operator may rotate thestandard 16 to swing the entire assembly on a vertical axis. By the sametoken, he may raise and lower the boom 20 on the axis 22 throughactuation of the piston within cylinder 24. Still further, he may swingthe posts 30 and 32 on the bolt 34 with respect to the boom 2i? bycausing the piston within cylinder 33 to reciprocate therealong.

During such operations, the frame 42 is normally free to swing on thepivot pins 50, and by virtue of the fact that the center of gravity ofthis swinging assembly is below the pivot pins 50, the post 46 willnormally assume a substantially vertical position. As the boom it israised and lowered, or swung on its vertical axis, and as the bucketarms 39 and 32 are caused to swing on the hori-- zontal axis 34, theoperator may simultaneously, through use of the manual controls 88,cause the bucket sections 52 and 54 to swing toward and away from eachother, either together or independently. it is seen that either of thecylinders 66 or 68, or both may be supplied with fluid pressure,depending upon the nature of the earth moving and handling operationswhich are taking place. When the post 46 is permitted to swing freelyrelative to the arms 30 and 32, bucket sections 52 and 54 are actuatedfor swinging movement relative to the frame 42, and the fact that theframe 42 is permitted to swing freely, has no effect upon the swingingmovement of the bucket sections 52 and 54 relative to the frame 42.Finally, as above indicated, some operations may require the holding ofpost 46 against swinging movement relative to the arms 30 and 32, and insuch event the pin 84 may be employed.

It is now apparent that the entire machine is highly maneuverable andquite versatile so far as various types of earth handling operations areconcerned. When excavations are being made and the material so excavatedis to be transferred from one point to another the sections 52 and 54may be moved toward and away from'each other, and in this respect, it isseen that dumping of the material from the bucket 36 is a simple andeasy operation. in ground leveling operations and in shaping the sidewalls of basements and other excavations, the bucket section 52 may beused alone if desired and the post 41? held against swinging movementthrough employment of the locking'pin 84.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be sccuredby Letters Patent is:

1. In materials handling equipment, a boom; a bucket arm depending fromthe boom and pivotally secured thereto for-swinging movement'about ahorizontal axis; a T-shaped frame having a horizontal crossbeampivotally iii) secured to the arm at the lowermost end of the latter forswinging movement about an axis parallel with said horizontal axis, andan upstanding post rigidly secured to the cross-beam for swingingmovement therewith; a clamshell bucket having a pair of opposed sectionspivotally mounted on the crossbeam for swinging movement toward and awayfrom each other about axes parallel with said horizontal axis; and adouble-acting, hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly extending upwardlyfrom each section respectively, each assembly being pivotally connectedwith a corresponding section for swinging the latter relative to thecrossbeam, said assemblies being pivotally connected to said post at theuppermost end of the latter for swinging movement with the frame and thebucket as a unit relative to the arm as the latter swings relative tothe boom, the center of gravity of said unit being below the axis ofswinging movement of the crossbeam relative to the arm whereby said posttends to maintain an upright position.

2. In materials handling equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein isprovided releasable means for interconnecting the arm and the post tohold the frame against swinging movement relative to the arm.

3. In materials handling equipment, a support; a boom pivotally mountedat one end thereof on said support for swinging movement about ahorizontal axis; a bucket arm depending from the boom at the oppositeend thereof; a T-shaped frame having a horizontal crossbeam pivotallysecured to the arm at the lowermost end of the latter for swingingmovement about an axis parallel with said horizontal axis, and anupstanding post rigidly secured to the crossbeam for swinging movementtherewith; a clamshell bucket having a pair of opposed sectionspivotally mounted on the crossbeam for swinging movement toward and awayfrom each other about axes parallel with said horizontal axis; and adouble-acting, hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly extending upwardlyfrom each section respectively, each assembly being pivotally connectedwith a corresponding section for swinging the latter relative to thecrossbeam, said assemblies being pivotally connected to said post at theuppermost end of the latter for swinging movement with the frame and thebucket as a unit relative to the arm as the boom swings relative to thesupport, the center of gravity of said unit being below the axis ofswinging movement of the crossbeam relative to the arm whereby said posttends to maintain an upright position.

4. In materials handling equipment, a support; a boom pivotally mountedat one end thereof on said support for swinging movement about ahorizontal axis; a bucket arm depending from the boom at the oppositeend thereof and pivotally secured thereto for swinging movement about anaxis parallel with said horizontal axis; a T-shaped frame having ahorizontal crossbeam pivotally secured to the arm at the lowermost endof the latter for swinging movement about an axis parallel with saidhorizontal axis, and an upstanding post rigidly secured to the crossbeam for swinging movement therewith; a clamshell bucket having a pairof opposed sections pivotally mounted on the crossbeam for swingingmovementtoward and away from each other about axes parallel with saidhorizontal axis; and a double-acting, hydraulic piston and cylinderassembly extending upwardly from each section respectively, eachassembly being pivotally connected with a corresponding section forswinging the latter relative to the crossbeam, said assemblies beingpivotally connected to said post at the uppermost end of the latter forswinging movement with the frame .and the bucket as a unit relative tothe arm as the boom swings relative to the support and as the arm swingsrelative ,to the boom, the center of gravity of said unit being'belowthe axis of swinging movement of the crossbeam relative to the armwhereby said post tends to maintain an upright position.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Simauek June 19, 1951 6 Troyer Oct. 20,1953 Pilch May 18, 1954 Ives Feb. 15, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar.20, 1933

